ERIC Number: EJ1124078
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
An Exploration of the Use of Eye Gaze and Gestures in Females with Rett Syndrome
Urbanowicz, Anna; Downs, Jenny; Girdler, Sonya; Ciccone, Natalie; Leonard, Helen
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v59 n6 p1373-1383 Dec 2016
Purpose: This study investigated the communicative use of eye gaze and gestures in females with Rett syndrome. Method: Data on 151 females with Rett syndrome participating in the Australian Rett Syndrome Database was used in this study. Items from the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (Wetherby & Prizant, 2002) were used to measure communication. Relationships between the use of eye gaze and gestures for communication were investigated using logistic regression. The influences of "MECP2" mutation type, age, and level of motor abilities on the use of eye gaze and gestures were investigated using multivariate linear regression. Results: Both eye gaze and the use of gestures predicted the ability to make requests. Women aged 19 years or older had the lowest scores for eye gaze. Females with better gross motor abilities had higher scores for the use of eye gaze and gestures. The use of eye gaze did not vary across mutation groups, but those with a C-terminal deletion had the highest scores for use of gestures. Conclusions: Eye gaze is used more frequently than gestures for communication, and this is related to age, "MECP2" mutation type, and gross motor abilities.
Descriptors: Eye Movements, Nonverbal Communication, Females, Developmental Disabilities, Regression (Statistics), Age Differences, Psychomotor Skills, Genetic Disorders, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A